Motor type
The type of electric motor installed in the hair dryer.
This parameter is specified if the device does not use a traditional collector (brush) direct current (DC) electric motor, but more advanced motor. The options here might be:
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AC motor. Hair dryers equipped with alternating current (AC) motors use the same type of power found in regular electrical outlets. These AC motors offer several key advantages over their DC counterparts, including enhanced reliability, durability, and excellent resistance to high loads. They can operate at full power for extended periods without overheating, often lasting for at least 5 years even under continuous use. Additionally, AC motors provide more even heating and facilitate quick adjustments to temperature settings. As a result, hair dryers with AC motors are essential tools in professional settings such as hairdressers and beauty salons. However, the main drawback of AC motors is their relatively higher cost, making them less practical for occasional home use.
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Brushless motor. A brushless electric motor, which eliminates the need for a traditional commutator and brush contacts, employs a built-in electronic circuit to control the current in the motor windings. Despite being more expensive than conventional brushed motors, they offer several advantages. These motors allow for more precise and wider range adjustments of engine speed an
...d airflow, resulting in higher efficiency and better overall performance for the same power consumption. Moreover, the absence of moving brush components enhances their durability, leading to significantly longer service lives compared to both AC and traditional brushed motors. However, due to their higher cost, brushless models are not widely used even in the professional industry.Power/temperature control
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Joint. In models with joint adjustment of power and “degree” of air flow, the parameters change at the touch of a button. Hair dryers usually have several fixed values of blowing intensity and air temperature.
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Separate. Separate heat and temperature controls give you more freedom of choice when using your hair dryer and styler. The parameters of the flow force and temperature for hair dryers with separate adjustments change separately, which allows you to count on the optimal values of power and “degree” of blowing to avoid overdrying your hair.
Temperature modes
The number of heating modes provided in the tool.
The presence of several temperature modes makes it possible to choose the best option for a particular situation. For example, for quick curling of "naughty" hair, when speed is more important than delicacy, you can set a strong heat, and if there are no problems over time, you can use a lower temperature. But the specific amount directly depends on the type of device (see "Device").
So, in hair dryers of one kind or another, there are usually few temperature modes — up to 3 in household models, and up to 8 – 9 (occasionally more) in professional ones. But curling irons and stylers, even relatively simple ones, can have several dozen levels of adjustment — their operating range is quite wide (for example, 130 – 200 °C), and the temperature in this range is often adjusted in steps of several degrees.
Also note that in hair dryers
, temperature control and
power control are carried out separately, and these parameters can have a different number of settings (for example, 2 power levels and 6 temperature levels). In curling irons, stylers, etc. the temperature only changes at the same time as the power, so the number of power modes may not be indicated at all — it corresponds to the number of temperature settings by definition.
Coating of the heating element
Type of outer coating of the heating element.
— Chrome plated. The most basic and widely used coating option is chrome. It is affordable and heats up quickly. However, using chrome-coated heaters can pose a higher risk of hair damage, so caution is needed when using them. Due to this risk, chrome-coated nozzles are not ideal for frequent or continuous use.
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Aluminium. Such heaters are considered more advanced than the chrome ones described above, due to a longer service life and better heat distribution. However, it is not without the characteristic drawbacks of any metal coating, primarily the negative impact on the condition of the hair.
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Titan. Another option for a metal heater. In terms of basic properties, it is almost completely similar to aluminium (see above), in most cases it differs only in appearance.
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Ceramics. The main advantage of ceramics is the better distribution of heat than in metal heaters. Due to this, such a coating is considered much more “gentle”; however, its cost is noticeably higher, and heating is slower.
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Tourmaline. In most cases, when referring to a ceramic heater, it is typically combined with a tourmaline coating. This coating serves two primary functions: ionization, which promotes smooth and even styling, and friction reduction, allowing the cur
...ling iron to glide through the hair effortlessly.
— Titanium ceramics. A specific type of ceramic coating used by some manufacturers. The design, usually, implements various additional technologies designed to improve the quality of work; however, whether such devices outperform "ceramic" analogues depends on the model in each specific case.
— Titanium-tourmaline. An analogue of the tourmaline coating described above, in which titanium is used as the base of the heater instead of ceramic. There is practically no difference in the main features.
— Steel. The most basic and common coating option is "ordinary metal plating," typically referring to steel. The main advantage of this surface is its low cost. However, the heating can be uneven and harsh, which demands careful handling of the tool and makes it less suitable for frequent use.
— Teflon. Teflon stands out for its low friction, making plates glide effortlessly through the hair, even more so than ceramic ones. However, in terms of heating uniformity, it slightly lags behind ceramics.
— Copper silicon. Typically, the reference is made to silicon-coated copper plates. Copper offers excellent thermal conductivity, ensuring uniform heating, while silicon provides practical properties similar to ceramics, such as a gentle effect and suitability for frequent use. However, this option is relatively specific and does not offer significant advantages over more traditional materials, which is why it is relatively rare.
— Manganese-copper. The manganese-copper coating on the heating plates offers a very gentle effect on the hair. These flexible plates allow the styler (straightener or curling iron) to adapt to the shape of the hair strand, reducing mechanical stress on the hair and minimizing damage. As a result, the hair becomes more manageable and obedient.